What is Spiritual Direction?

Eugene Peterson once said, “The assumption of spirituality is that always God is doing something before I know it. So, the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it.”

Spiritual direction has a long and honored place in Christian History. In the New Testament this sort of discerning, directing relationship can be seen with Jesus and his disciples, for example, or Paul and Timothy. Christian spiritual direction was set up by the desert fathers and mothers of the 3rd and 4th centuries. Then, in the centuries following, monks in monasteries developed this ministry further. So, while it has it’s roots in Catholicism it’s found it’s place in protestant world in recent years.

More recently, David Benner, a Christian psychologist and spiritual director, defined spiritual direction as “increasing awareness of God in the midst of life experiences and facilitating surrender to God”. It is another leg on the discipleship chair helping others pay attention to and discern how God the Father is actively shaping their life through the Holy Spirit in ways that form them more deeply into the image of Christ. It helps us close the gap between what we know and believe about God and what we actually experience. Much of contemporary Christian discipleship has emphasized biblical knowledge, spiritual disciplines, moral behavior, and ministry involvement. While these dimensions are vital, many believers continue to experience spiritual exhaustion, emotional fragmentation, performance-based faith, and a persistent disconnect between what they profess and what they actually live.

Spiritual direction offers a complement to an information heavy and programmatic model of Christian maturity or what is called Spiritual Formation. More than guidance, mentoring, or spiritual conversation, spiritual direction is a relational and discerning practice of intentional soulcare that helps individuals attend to the presence and activity of God within the realities of everyday life.

At its core, spiritual direction is discipleship of the heart.

Grounded in Scripture, particularly the Shema of Deuteronomy 6 and Jesus’ reaffirmation of the greatest commandment in Matthew 22, following God involves the integration of our heart, soul, mind, our will, relationships, desires, vocation, story, and our lived experience into a deeply relational life with God.

Spiritual direction creates space for:

• Discernment

• Self-awareness before God

• Integration of faith and lived experience

• Healing of an interior life where our desires are disordered

• Awareness of God’s presence and activity in our life

• Transformation from the inside out

As a Spiritual Director I offer Christ centered guidance to help others make sense of their faith journey, interpret with them the significant markers of the road, and encourage us, particularly through the more difficult transitions & valleys of our pilgrimage.

“So, it’s like Counseling right ?”

Some Directors would answer that question with a hard NO but there are some similarities and differences:

• This is a very formal conversation, set for specific day and time for generally an hour. It’s very intentional and focused.

• Both use many of the same active listening skills in working with people.

• Both offer a safe and supportive space for the person to talk about their lives.

• Both can cover very similar ground in that in spiritual direction the person can share anything from their life experience that is with them at this time, not just their prayer or sacramental life.

• For both there may also be a sense of 'wholeness' as being the aim of the process.

However, at their heart, there are some important differences that may help you understand the distinctions:

• This is not a conversation over coffee in a noisy coffee shop or a beer at the bar

• As a spiritual director while I’m accredited through an organization called Sustainable Faith, I am not a licensed therapist or counselor.

• Spiritual Direction sessions meet typically for an hour once a month while a Counselor our Coach will meet with you once a week, until the problem has been resolved or dealt with appropriately.

Where therapy will typically look to solve a problem using a formal therapeutic model of some sort Christ centered spiritual direction is different. Spiritual Direction desires that if indeed you are going to struggle (and we all do) then our hope is for you to struggle well with an eye towards how God is shaping you in the midst of the struggle. Trusting that God is so good, so rich and kind that he is 1000% committed to bringing healing to wherever you’ve been harmed.

Spiritual Direction is also a great follow up for someone who has completed therapy or counseling or even coaching and wants to remain faithful to what they have learned.

Interested in adding Spiritual Direction as a part of your discipleship?

If you would like to discuss Spiritual Direction as a part of your own discipleship to Jesus I would love to talk with you. Please use the contact form to reach me directly about scheduling time or email me direction at Livingcentered22@gmail.com